Ohio For The Holiday Too

We spent a week visiting Grandma and Grandpa Refermat in Ohio. Besides opening presents, Sophia loved playing the piano, especially with Grandpa. We also got to meet Alice, who came to visit for the holiday from England, with Mark.

Good As Gold

While I was packing for our trip to Ohio I saw Odin and Sophia laying on the floor by each other. I thought it was too cute to pass up and they actually stayed still for the photo. Odin is getting a bit better about house training. There are days we actually go without having an accident. Sophia likes it when he chases things around the room, but is usually jealous of any attention mom shows the dog. The same goes for Odin too. He thinks he should get to do (and eat) everything Sophia does. The cat just accepts it all with hissing and contempt.

Kid Crazy Christmas

We had four little ones running around our house when the Gehrke's and the Reik's came over, not to mention a curious 2 month old puppy. With six adults, we were able to keep everything under control, but I'm fairly confident we'll be out numbered soon.

Natalie got a hold of the Christmas train and kept yelling "choo-choo." (She lives right by the train tracks). Carson loved being a chef with the toy mixer and MacKenna was just being her happy self.

Christmas 2009

Okay, so I'm going back in time....but Christmas in our new house was great. We had three Christmases here, a friends', friends' with kids, and a family Christmas. We got a few of the major painting jobs done before hand, not to mention the tree and decorations up so everything looked festive.

This first was my good friend from way back in grade school. You see Lisa, Lauren and Mike, who will soon be a family... can you see the rock on Lisa's finger? Unfortunately, Lauren wasn't feeling well that day, so she's tucked under the blanket instead of ripping wildly through wrapping paper. Poor kid.

Brenda brought her new dog, Scruffy, who Odin pestered the entire evening. Tina is festive as always in her signature color.

Odin

Sophia has a new playmate ... a newfoundland / huskie puppy. He's 10 weeks old now and full of energy. While not completely housebroken, we are making large strides, which really helps.

Sophia likes it when he chases things she throws, but otherwise, doesn't really like him. If I'm playing with Odin, she'll climb into my lap, yell 'MAMA' or otherwise try to get my attention. It's probably a good step for her to get used to sharing attention in case she has a brother or sister someday, but it is an adjustment.

Odin is also jealous. If I'm playing on the floor with Sophia, he climbs into the middle of whatever we're doing or into my lap. It would be funny, if I didn't have to constantly fight one or the other of them off. We're all adjusting though and his cute puppy ways are even winning Joe over...although slowly.

Sophia's New Hat

So we're hanging out in the office and Sophia takes the doll's shirt and pulls it over her head like a hat. Luckily, I had the camera ready. Too cute.

Dancing In The Dark

Sophia and I got our groove on before bedtime. Joe was there, so got blackmail-I mean pictures of it. Sophia especially likes dancing and music these days. She'll push her shoulders up one at a time to the rhythm or hold your hands and dance you dizzy (which is surprisingly easy.) Still, it's some good times, dancing in your pajamas.

Halloween Fairy

So she's the Vidia Fairy for those who are Disney buffs...she just doesn't know it yet. It was pretty cold here so we only took her up and down the street to meet the neighbors. Really nice people. In fact, the couple next door have a 5 and 3 year old, but have been absolutely welcoming. They gave Sophia a gift for her birthday and Boo'd us for Halloween (which means they left little halloween trinkets on our doorstep instead of poo for ding-dong-ditch).
Oh, and on a side note, don't spray colored hair spray into your toddler hair. It sticks to their scalp and they really don't like being scrubbed. Lesson learned!

Working With Dad In The Yard

I know I haven't posted any new pictures of the house. To be perfectly honest, it's because we've been working on things, but no project is actually ... um...done.

But here's a couple shots I thought were too cute to pass up. Sophia is helping Joe dig up the future vegetable garden in the backyard. And also having fun with the great big beautiful leaves all over the yard from the Maple tree.

Puppies!

Aunt Meredith has had 9 robust black puppies (okay, Luna actually had them), but we go to play with them regularly. They are about two and a half weeks old now. They todder around with open eyes, but still can't see well.

Sophia likes to play with them.

And Mom's already picked out her favorite...the one she wants to call Percy.

They'll be going to new homes after Thanksgiving, but until then they are a cute and cuddly bunch as long as they're fed.

They'll Never Find Me In Here

First Hair Cut

Sophia got a hair cut this week. We have a BEFORE where she's sitting on mom's lap, drugged with a blue icee, dinah and cartoons. She didn't really hold still for the barber (Aunt Meredith) but she didn't scream either.

She sat by Dad afterwards, a head full of curls.

Then Dad got a hair cut.

I'm A Material Girl - A comment from Sophia

Mommy was working hard, so I decided to try on her jewelry. I'm wearing at least 5 necklaces at once, but I think they go well together. Of course, I can't really count yet, so that number is a guess. Mommy's got all kinds of goodies in that jewelry box. I played with it for half an hour - a new record. Ah, the joys of being 1 (almost 2) years old.

We've Promised Her A Real Swing

September has brought some exciting changes to our family...before you get the wrong idea, it's a new house. We are moving to the south side of Waukesha, near the studio, where there's a beautiful quiet neighborhood with a park and space for a real swing so Sophia doesn't have to use the Gazelle anymore (see video).

We are moving September 28th (not much time), so we are hard at work packing and preparing. It should be fun. The link to see pictures is at: http://www.shorewest.com/vp/ListingServlet?SITE=SHOREW&ScreenID=LISTING_DETAIL_P&EXCEEDLIMIT=null&totalFound=0&cd_MLS=1205888
(And no, the 70's furniture didn't come with the house -- I know, we were disappointed too. ;)

Teeth Brushing Woes - A comment from Sophia

Mommy insists on this nightly ritual of sticking a plastic spear in my mouth and tickling me with the end of it. She says it's brushing my teeth. If I'm cooperative, she sometimes lets me do it myself. I like to bite and suck on the brush more than acutally move it around, though. Shhh, don't tell Mommy, she's telling me what a good job I'm doing.

Family Fun

Sophia came to the Studio one windy Saturday for the Family Fun Fest. They have animal petting, face painting, free ice cream sandwiches, balloons and even a large inflated slide. Sophia didn't participate in all the activities, but she did sit on Grandpa's lap to get a Super Girl shield painted on her hand by the wonderful A Touch of Glaze staff. :)

Another fun fact, while she giggled at the goats in the petting area going crazy for the nuggets of dried food in Grandpa's hands, she wanted nothing to do with petting or feeding them. She wailed and climbed into Mommy's lap everytime Grandpa tried to get her near them.

The highlight was getting to share two ice cream sandwiches, one with Grandpa and one with Daddy. Yum!

Dogs Are The Best Pillows

Okay, okay, I've been remiss in my duties to post new pictures of Sophia, but in my defense, summer is a busy time. There's get-togethers to attend, gourmet meals to cook, and oh, yes, naps to take as well.

Hot Dog Day

In June, the apartment is a broiling 85 degrees. Whether it's the lack of real air conditioning, the high humidity of living near the marsh or just the fact that we live upstairs, is a mystery. We cope however we can, lying around watching the TV unable to move or even play. Soon, we hope to be moving to a house, but until then, we keep the fan blowing and the milk cold.

Giggle Girl - She's Just Like Her Father

Working in the Garden

It's been nice here in Wisconsin, in the seventies with a light breeze. We went to Grandma and Grandpa's to help in the garden. They just put in some raised beds. Since we're in an apartment at the moment the experience was rather new for Sophia.

A Tale of Two Easters

Easter was filled with Family. The Ohio Refermats came up for the weekend so Sophia got to see both her grandparents. We spent lots of time swimming at the Olympia pool, eating treats, getting pampered by relatives, etc. Sophia even hunted for eggs, which was pretty fun since everyone ooohed and aaahed when she found one. The only problem, she thought they were balls and threw them on the floor or into the basket. Thank goodness they were hard boiled. We may switch to plastic eggs next year. I only wish I had taken more pictures. Here's one I got of Sophia in the moments before she covered herself in strawberry slurps.

Take Me With You

Could it be that Sophia is sad when I have to go to work? Did she want to come? I'm not sure, but whatever her motivation, she tried to wedge herself in the labtop computer bag.

This picture is right before the I'm-stuck-get-me-out-of-here tears began.

Book Worm

Sophia loves books, just adores them. She'll read them in bed, she'll read them in the living room, she'll even browse while getting her diaper changed. Her favorites include "Sometimes I Like To Curl Up In A Ball" and Where's Elmo's blanket (a lift the flap book). Since her parents both love books too, but different kinds, they have put a wager on whether she'll prefer fiction or non-fiction. I was winning until she found this book in the bookcase. (Don't worry, we're not forcing her into using the toilet just yet.)

I Want A Dog!

For those of you wondering about Sophia's attachment to a particular stuffed animal, this photo should say is all. Thank goodness for big Dinah.

Joe's Slam-Dunkin Birthday

Sophia got her Dad an apartment-sized basketball hoop until we can get a house for a real one. It's great fun for them both.

Silly Baby Hair

Okay, so maybe the style is more suited to Pebbles, than Sophia. Her hair is really getting long. It's my color, but definitely straight. The little wisps have curly ends, but I don't think that will last.

Snow Bunny

It's been a snowy winter here in Wisconsin. The white stuff is beautiful, but sometimes a little cold. Today was fairly warm, at least in the 30s, so very comfortable. (wink) We decided to take Sophia out for a walk, just to get out of the house. Here she is in her snow suit, hat, and mittens. We walked around the block. There were a couple spills, but with so much padding and mittens, she didn't even cry. The funniest thing is how cautious she was about walking on the snow, but when she hit clear sidewalk she'd run forward. I'm pretty sure if her father hadn't walked her into the house, she would have stayed out much longer.

First Tantrum

This is a record of Sophia’s first official tantrum. It was painful, and we thought you’d all like to share in the experience. But after watching the video, take a peek at the picture.

Taking the Tree Down

Back in Wisconsin now, packing away the spirit of Christmas for another year, Sophia helped Mom take the garland off the tree. However, Sophia is very fond of jewelry, especially those metallic beaded necklaces. I suppose I should have seen it coming. Instead I snapped a photo.